Carton cutter or the like

ABSTRACT

A carton cutter of simple design which is easily fabricated and which device, in an exemplary embodiment, is made of molded plastic. The components of the device are easily made and assembled and the device carries a blade, for example, an ejector-razor type, in a sheathed or noncutting position and in order to expose the blade an affirmative force must be applied by the user, thereby preventing dangerous exposure of the cutting edge of the device during periods of nonuse.

United States Patent Leopoldi 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] CARTON CUTTER OR THELIKE 2,623,282 12/1952 .lauch ..30/l56 X [72] Inventor: NorbertLeopoldvi, 4180 Marine Drive 3,002,273 l/l96l Merritt ..3()/2 Chlcago60613 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. [22] Filed: Jan. 29,1970 Assistant Examiner-R. C. Riordan [2| 1 pp No 6 910 Attorney-Mann,Brown, McWilliams & Bradway [57] 6 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..30/2, 30/156,355/1363 19, A canon cutter of Simple design which is easily fabricatedand which device, in an exemplary embodiment, is made of molded plastic.The components of the device are easily made o are l and assembled andthe device carries a blade, for example, an ejector-razor type, in asheathed or noncutting position and in order to expose the blade anaffirmative force must he applied [56] References Cited by the user,thereby preventing dangerous exposure of the UNITED STATES PATENTScutting edge of the device during periods of nonuse. 2,376,887 5/1945Walters ..30/ 151 X 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ni lf.l llllp, i Wsnlfi lll 'l 14 I. 26 r l I 18 I U WI 12 'l l" H 11'' I H Ilill Ill. L J

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\ J72 venZar fldrigrilegfl/d'i CARTON CUTTEROR THE LIKE BACKGROUNDOF THEINVENTION This invention, in an exemplary embodiment; pertains to acarton cutter or like device fabricated economically and operatedsimply, andiwherein a handy compact'carton cutter, using a razor bladeor similar such-cutting member, may be easily used without fear-ofcutting the .user: duringtimes of nonuse. The carton cutter oftheinventionin the specific, illustrative embodiment is fabricatedofessentially-three main components which snap-fit or otherwise'coacttogether to form. the utilitariandevices. The first main blade-carryingmember is equipped with aslot or recess into which a cutting blade, suchas an ejector razor blade, is inserted. Asecond retaining member snapfits over the recess to retain the blade in the first member andthe'blade-carrying. member is then pivotally fitted within a sheathlike.housingmember. The cutting edge of the blade is normally within thehousing shroud and'in order to bring. the bladeinto the cuttingposition, the blade-carrying member must be pivotally rotatedas by theapplication ofa force to its lower end byythe handof the user. Inanother embodiment, a safety lock. is contemplated which requires anaffirmative, positive actxon' the part ofthe user in order to allow theforegoing pivotal movement in order to bring the blade of the cartoncutter into the usableposition.

With the herein disclosed, invention, an economically fabricated cartoncutter that is simple to assembleand which can bemade of low-costmaterials is made available for a myriad of uses, but primarily, willfind, its greatestuse in the cutting of cardboard and the like.Thedevices of this invention are simple to use, are subjectto-littlewear, and make replacement oftheusedcuttingbladesimple andfast.- In.the specific embodiment illustrated, the carton cuttercomponents are made of low-cost,,moldable plastic materials which. arenot subjected to rust or other corrosion andwhich, by asimple mechanism,bares the cutting edge for instant availability of use.Generallysspeaking, the devices will be of asize easily grasped by thehuman hand.

SUMMARY OFTHE'INVENTION.

In an exemplary-embodiment, this invention: pertains to a cartoncutteror the like comprising. a sheathlike'housing. member within'whicha blade-carrying member ispivotally BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a side view in elevation showing. the assembledcarton cutterof this invention in the noncutting state and showing the maincomponents in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a front, exploded view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the.blade retaining member shown in perspective to indicate detail thereof;

FIG. 3 is a back, exploded view of the device depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similarto that of FIG. 1 showing the device in use; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified bottom view of the; carton cutter of thisinvention depicted in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While throughout thefollowing.commentary, taken in conjunction with the drawings, the invention willbe directed specifically to a carton cutter-made of moldable plasticshaving essentially three components excluding the blade member, it is tobe understood that other materials of constructionsuch as-the metals andtheir alloys will also suffice. Additionally, while these maincomponents are shown as being unitary or iritegrally formed, they mayof'course be made up of several different parts so long as the varioushereinafter describedfunctions are retained. In like manner, whilea'blade-retaining member is indicated, it is of course possible to usebut two es sential components wherein the blade may be received infrictional engagement in a slot orreceiving channel provided in theblade-carrying member. However, for purposes of fabrica tion and to keepthe costs of the 'devices within proper per spective, the specificdisclosed embodiments of the invention are preferred. In like manner,while an ejector-type blade is shown, it is-within the purview thatcommon double-edged, single-edged and the like razor blades also be used"with, of course, appropriate modification in the members being-made.All of these variations and modifications will not depart from theinvention as disclosed herein.

Referring now specifically to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreferences designate like elements throughout, the carton cutter-2comprises essentially two major components,

sheathlike housing member'4 within which blade-carrying member 5ispivotally carried so it can be pivotallyiotated about pivot point 6and, of course, member SQ Housing member 4'is made of thin-walled,molded plastic having sidewalls 8 and 10, end walls 12 and 14 andtopwall '20, thereby forming an open-bottomed member 4 and defining chamber16. In side elevation, housing member 4 has a whalelike configurationwhich is adapted to the contours of the other major component of thecarton cutter, as will become apparent. In sidewall 8, aperture 18 ispositioned forwardly (toward end wall 14) from the approximate midpointof the length of housing 4. Aperture l8 is'spaced inwardly from top wall20of housing-4. Within chamber 16 and spaced inwardly from side walls 8and 10 is a saddle-typestructure 22 formed by semicurvilinear segments24 and 26. The curvilinear portions or radius of portions 24'and 26 may,but not necessarily, havetheir radii congruent to that of aperture'l8.

The'saddle 22fis disposedimmediatelyabove the aperture 18 for reasonswhich will become apparent when considering that blade-carrying member28 is adapted to fit within chamber 16" and ride inbearing relationwithin the-saddle 22 abouta pivot point such. as 6=defined as theapproximate centerpoint of aperture 18. The blade-carrying end 30 0fmember 28is provided with a first recessed or slotlike portion 32-having upraised walls 32a, 32b and 32c thereabout. Wall 32c is inclinedfor reasons which will be-apparent. A second recess orblade-accommodating slot 31 is provided having side walls 31a, 31b andthe inclined wall 320 cooperating ,-to receive blade 34. L-shaped cutout31a is provided to enable displacement of blade 34 from its retainedposition, if necessary. Attention is directed to FIG. 5 where the blade34 and retaining member 36 are removed for purposes of clarity toshow'the details of construction of the blade-receiving portion. Shallowslot 31d within the slot 31 provides means in cooperation'with aretaining member of aligning, for instance, ejector blade aperture 340of blade 34. So as to insure the retention of blade 34-withinthereceiving slot or channel 31, a snap-fitting type-' retaining member36,having inclined edges 38 and 40 for a snug fit with respect to blade 34,is provided with extending or frictionally engaging curved portion 42adapted toengage the curvilinear portion 32d of noted that retainingmember 36 is of congruent size-and' shape as recess 32, the sidewalls32a, 32b and 325 of 'recess 32 5 receiving the external edges of member36 in close-fitting abutting relationship. Retaining member 36 is alsoprovided with an upraised boss 36a correspondingin size to slot 34d ofblade 34 for obvious retention reasons. Hole 36b is provided for'moldingand other non important reasons. Obviously, as elaborate a bladeretaining channel or slot need hump portion 44. A great portion ofmember 28 is provided end 30 of member 28. It will be not" be resortedto as shown, and other more direct ways and means with an upraised orthicker (with respect to the remaining portion) reenforcing edges suchas 46 which, in this particular instance, follows. for the most part,the main contour of component 28 as shown. The radius of hump portion 44is identical to the radius of saddle portion 22 of housing member 4 suchthat portion 44 rides within the saddle defined by segments 24 and 26which may be of any thickness. It should be at once apparent that in theassembled form, and as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1, member 44 isreceived within saddle 22. In order to retain member 28 within housing 4in saddle 22, a protuberance or button member 48 (which may or may notbe of unitary form with respect to member 28) is provided, and whichprotuberance is mounted on a springy or flexible section 50, whichspringiness comes about by reason of the U- shaped slot 52 and also byreason that the thickness of member 28 around U-shaped slot 52 is lessthan the remainder of member 28 at this area so that allowance or roomis provided for the flexing or bending of portion 50 around U- shapedslot 52 into the plane of the paper as view in FIG. 1. In the preferredform, protuberance or button 48 is a separate member secured as byplastic glue to portion 50 for ease of fabrication. The opposite end 54of blade-carrying member 28 is of double wishbone or springlikeconfiguration, the first spring being formed by leverlike portion 56,while the second, and more wishbonelike appearing in configuration, andforming the terminus of member 28, is safety catch portion 58. Thereason for first springlike leg member 56 is apparent when viewing thephantom line showings in the drawings, more specifically in FIG. 4. Itis this member which causes all of member 28 to pivot to the downwardposition (as seen in FIG. I) so as to retain the cutting blade 34 insheathlike housed relationship within housing member 4. The bottom edgeportion 60 of member 28 is serrated or provided with slots or notches 62which facilitate grasping thereof by the human hand as suggested in FIG.4. Member 28 adjacent the edge 60 is of cutoutlike configuration toallow for the flexing of the spring member 56 in the downward positiontoward the surface 64 while safety spring member 58 flexes toward edge66. Thus, member 28 is shown in the normal or biased position (FIG. I)with respect to the spring portions 56 and 58 and in the usable positionin FIG. 4. The spring portion 58 is provided with foot end 68 adapted toabut the lower edge 70 of housing member 4 or, more specifically, thesidewall 12. It will be noted that spring member 58 has a slight bow orcurvature for ease offitting within housing member 4.

To assemble the device (reference being made to FIG. 2), one merelyinserts blade 34 within the blade-receiving slot 31, places retainingmember 36 thereover, press-fits it into recess 32 and inserts member 28with the assembled blade into the confines of the chamber 16 defined byhousing member 4 and aligns curved or hump portion 44 with saddle 22.Because the button or protuberance 48 and the adjacent portion 52 aregreater in width dimension than chamber 16, they will be in the flexedposition and button 48 will bear against the interior surface of wall 8until aperture 18 is reached, at which time it will pop and projecttherethrough to secure member 28 in pivotal relationship with respect tohousing 4. The outermost edge of spring member 56 will frictionallyengage and act against the interior surface of upper wall to causemember 28 to assume the position shown in FIG. 1, and in this position,the foot or safety abutment surface 68 of spring safety member 58 willengage the lower edge 70 of end wall 12 and extend therebeyond as shown.To operate the device, one merely exerts a force on spring member 58tending to displace it toward surface 66 which will bring member 68within chamber 16 so that it may ride on the interior surface of endwall 12. Once this is achieved, one merely places the fingers (FIG. 4)along the serrated edge 60 which causes member 28 to pivot about point6, thereby compressing or causing spring member 56 to move towards edge64 and bring the cutting edge of blade 34 into the operable position.Obviously this pivotal movement is limited by one or both of the springmembers or portions 56 and 58 abutting the interior surface of top wall20 and end wall 12 of housing member 4. It will be ap parent from theshowing in FIG. 4 why the spring portions 56 and 58 of member 28 areconfigured the way they are and, for that matter, why blade-carryingmember 28 and indeed housing member 4 have the configurations that theydo. Other configurations, shapes and sizes are possible, and quiteobviously, spring portions such as 56 and 58 could be separate asopposed to integral members and could additionally be made of springsteel or the like to provide the necessary biasing and perform thefunctions as hereinbefore described. Also, the length of the safety lockportion 58 may be such so as to require a positive two-step manipulationto engage the foot 68 in the safety position. These and othermodifications, some of which have been alluded to before and some ofwhich will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, willnot detract from the spirit of the invention as disclosed herein.

Thus, an easily manipulatable cutting tool has been disclosed which isfabricated of low cost materials and which is assembled in a simplifiedmanner.

The embodiments in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimedare defined as follows:

1. A cutter or the like comprising a sheathlike housing member, ablade-carrying member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in saidhousing, pivot means for pivotally mounting said blade-carrying member,a blade mounted. in one end of said blade-carrying member and normallyretained within said sheathlike housing, a grasping portion on theopposite end of said blade-carrying member normally disposed outwardlyof the housing member, a biasing member on the opposite side of saidblade-carrying member from said grasping portion normally disposedwithin said housing member, said blade mounted in said one end and saidgrasping portion adjacent the opposite end together with said biasingmember being disposed on opposite sides of said pivot means, and saidblade-carrying member being pivotable against the action of said biasingmember to bring said blade into the cutting position by a force appliedto said grasping portion of sufficient magnitude to overcome the normalforce of said biasing member retaining the blade sheathed in saidhousing member.

2. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheathlikehousing member is of elongated and thin-walled configuration having sidewalls, a top wall and an open bottom thereby defining a chamber and oneof the sidewalls is provided with an aperture at the pivotal point ofsaid blade-carrying member.

3. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pivot meansincludes a receiving saddle in the interior surface of the top wallradially spaced from said pivotal point.

4. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sheathlikehousing member is of unitary construction and is of a length suitable tobe grasped by the human hand.

5. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot meansfurther comprises an upper portion on said bladecarrying member having aconfiguration adapted to be received within said saddle and forrotational movement therein and a protuberance carried on the side ofsaid member and being adapted to protrude through and become anchoredwithin said aperture in said side wall os said housing member.

6. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein said one end ofsaid blade-carrying member is recessed to define a blade-receivingcavity on one surface thereof and a retaining plate snaps into saidrecess to retain said blade within said recess and cavity.

7. A cutter or the like comprising a sheathlike housing member, ablade-carrying member pivotally mounted in said housing member, pivotmeans for pivotally mounting said blade-carrying member, a graspingportion on said blade-carrying member, biasing means, saidblade-carrying member being pivotable against the action of said biasingmeans to bring said blade into the cutting position by a force appliedto said grasping portion of sufficient magnitude to overcome the normalbiasing force sheathing said cutting blade, said sheathlike housingmember being of elongated and thinwalled configuration having side andtop walls and an open bottom thereby defining a chamber and one of theside walls being provided with an aperture to define-a pivotal point,said sheathlike housing member having a receiving saddle in its interiorsurface of the top wall radially spaced from said pivotal point, saidsheathlike housing member being of unitary construction and being of alength suitable to be grasped by the human hand, said blade-carryingmember comprising an upper portion having a configuration adapted to bereceived within said saddle and for rotational movement therein and aprotuberance carried on the side of said member and being adapted toprotrude through and become anchored within said aperture in said sidewall of said housing member defining said pivotal point, said one end ofsaid blade-carrying member being recessed to define a blade-receivingcavity on one surface thereof and a retaining plate snapping into saidrecess to retain said blade within said recess and cavity, the end ofsaid blade-carrying member opposite said blade being of doublewishbonelike configuration to define first and second springbiasingends, said biasing ends comprising said biasing means and the portion ofsaid blade-carrying member carrying said protuberance being of thinnerconstruction than the remainder and being resilient to allow flexingthereof for ease of placement within said aperture of said sidewall.

8. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 7 wherein said firstspring-biasing end exerts in the normal or uncompressed state a pivotalforce to pivotally rotate said blade-carrying member and to locate saidblade within the housing but upon compression allows the cutting bladeto be exposed.

9. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein said secondbiasing end is compressible in a plane substantially normal to thelohgitudinal axis of said cutter and which in the normal state acts as asafety to engage the bottom edge of said housing wall to preventpivoting of said blade-carrying member but which upon compression rideswithin said housmg.

10. A.cutter or the like as set forth in claim 9 wherein at least a partof the bottom edge of said blade-carrying member opposite said blade isserrated for easy grasp by a human hand and said cutter is fabricated ofmolded lightweight plastic.

' III

1. A cutter or the like comprising a sheathlike housing member, ablade-carrying member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in saidhousing, pivot means for pivotally mounting said bladecarrying member, ablade mounted in one end of said bladecarrying member and normallyretained within said sheathlike housing, a grasping portion on theopposite end of said bladecarrying member normally disposed outwardly ofthe housing member, a biasing member on the opposite side of saidbladecarrying member from said grasping portion normally disposed withinsaid housing member, said blade mounted in said one end and saidgrasping portion adjacent the opposite end together with said biasingmember being disposed on opposite sides of said pivot means, and saidblade-carrying member being pivotable against the action of said biasingmember to bring said blade into the cutting position by a force appliedto said grasping portion of sufficient magnitude to overcome the normalforce of said biasing member retaining the blade sheathed in saidhousing member.
 2. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid sheathlike housing member is of elongated and thin-walledconfiguration having side walls, a top wall and an open bottom therebYdefining a chamber and one of the sidewalls is provided with an apertureat the pivotal point of said blade-carrying member.
 3. A cutter or thelike as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pivot means includes areceiving saddle in the interior surface of the top wall radially spacedfrom said pivotal point.
 4. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 3wherein said sheathlike housing member is of unitary construction and isof a length suitable to be grasped by the human hand.
 5. A cutter or thelike as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot means further comprisesan upper portion on said blade-carrying member having a configurationadapted to be received within said saddle and for rotational movementtherein and a protuberance carried on the side of said member and beingadapted to protrude through and become anchored within said aperture insaid side wall os said housing member.
 6. A cutter or the like as setforth in claim 5 wherein said one end of said blade-carrying member isrecessed to define a blade-receiving cavity on one surface thereof and aretaining plate snaps into said recess to retain said blade within saidrecess and cavity.
 7. A cutter or the like comprising a sheathlikehousing member, a blade-carrying member pivotally mounted in saidhousing member, pivot means for pivotally mounting said blade-carryingmember, a grasping portion on said blade-carrying member, biasing means,said blade-carrying member being pivotable against the action of saidbiasing means to bring said blade into the cutting position by a forceapplied to said grasping portion of sufficient magnitude to overcome thenormal biasing force sheathing said cutting blade, said sheathlikehousing member being of elongated and thin-walled configuration havingside and top walls and an open bottom thereby defining a chamber and oneof the side walls being provided with an aperture to define a pivotalpoint, said sheathlike housing member having a receiving saddle in itsinterior surface of the top wall radially spaced from said pivotalpoint, said sheathlike housing member being of unitary construction andbeing of a length suitable to be grasped by the human hand, saidblade-carrying member comprising an upper portion having a configurationadapted to be received within said saddle and for rotational movementtherein and a protuberance carried on the side of said member and beingadapted to protrude through and become anchored within said aperture insaid side wall of said housing member defining said pivotal point, saidone end of said blade-carrying member being recessed to define ablade-receiving cavity on one surface thereof and a retaining platesnapping into said recess to retain said blade within said recess andcavity, the end of said blade-carrying member opposite said blade beingof double wishbonelike configuration to define first and secondspring-biasing ends, said biasing ends comprising said biasing means andthe portion of said blade-carrying member carrying said protuberancebeing of thinner construction than the remainder and being resilient toallow flexing thereof for ease of placement within said aperture of saidsidewall.
 8. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidfirst spring-biasing end exerts in the normal or uncompressed state apivotal force to pivotally rotate said blade-carrying member and tolocate said blade within the housing but upon compression allows thecutting blade to be exposed.
 9. A cutter or the like as set forth inclaim 8 wherein said second biasing end is compressible in a planesubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said cutter and whichin the normal state acts as a safety to engage the bottom edge of saidhousing wall to prevent pivoting of said blade-carrying member but whichupon compression rides within said housing.
 10. A cutter or the like asset forth in claim 9 wherein at least a part of the bottom edge of saidblade-carrying member opposite said blade is serrated for easy grasp bya human hand and said cutter is fabricated of molded lightweightplastic.